WIND BAND CLASSICS WILLIAM ALWYN Film Music Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra Clark Rundell • Mark Heron William William Alwyn (1905-85) ALWYN Film Music arranged for Wind Band (1905-85) William Alwyn was born in Northampton and died in was the template for the later Pirates of the Caribbean. 1 The Crimson Pirate – Overture 7:59 Blythburgh. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music Alwyn’s music is presented in the form of a concert overture where, at the age of 21, he was appointed Professor of and captures both the action and romance of the picture. The History of Mr Polly – Suite 11:22 Composition, a position he held for nearly thirty years. 2 The Wedding and Funeral 2:27 Amongst his works are five symphonies, concertos for flute, The History of Mr Polly – Suite (1949) 3 Fire 2:13 oboe, violin, harp and two for piano, various descriptive 4 Christabel 2:46 orchestral pieces, four operas and much chamber, The film is based on the novel The History of Mr Polly by 5 Punting Scene 1:32 instrumental and vocal music. In addition to this Alwyn H.G. Wells. Mr Polly (Sir John Mills) is a sensitive soul. 6 Utopian Sunset 2:26 contributed nearly 200 scores for the cinema. He began his Sacked from his job for daydreaming he despairs of ever career in this medium in 1936 writing music for finding another when his father’s death suddenly brings 7 The Way Ahead – March 1:46 documentaries. In 1941 he wrote his first feature-length score him a large inheritance with which he embarks on a State Secret – Suite 7:34 for Penn of Pennsylvania. Other notable film scores include cycling adventure. On his travels he meets and falls in Desert Victory, The Way Ahead, The True Glory, Odd Man love with a young girl but the relationship turns sour. 8 Main Titles and Grand Ball 1:59 Out, The History of Mr Polly, The Fallen Idol, The Rocking Spurned, he marries his cousin Miriam and settles in a 9 Theatre Music 2:16 Horse Winner, The Crimson Pirate, The Million Pound Note, small town where he opens a draper’s shop. Fifteen years 0 On the Barge 2:09 The Winslow Boy, The Card and A Night to Remember. In later with bad debt and a floundering marriage he reaches ! Finale 1:10 recognition of his services to the medium of film he was made a crossroads where some major decisions must be made. @ The Million Pound Note – Waltz 3:08 a Fellow of the British film Academy, the only composer until He stages his ‘suicide’ by setting fire to the shop, rescues more recently to have received this honour. In 1978 he was an old lady, has a little romance with Christabel, goes Swiss Family Robinson – Suite 9:33 awarded a CBE in recognition of his services to music. punting, all before settling down as a handyman at an inn. # Main Titles 3:05 I was commissioned by the William Alwyn Foundation to All the key scenes are portrayed in the five movement $ At Home 2:46 make these arrangements in order to further the music of suite covering a miniature history of the film itself. % Ostriches and Waterslides 3:42 Alwyn to performers and audiences currently not able to enjoy these, his lighter, contributions. The key principle, after The Way Ahead – March (1944) ^ The True Glory – March 2:44 selecting the most appropriate cues, was to remain true to Geordie – Suite 10:59 the composer and not add or subtract any personal touches. Alwyn’s first score for director Carol Reed, The Way & Main Titles 1:59 All the transcriptions were made from material provided by Ahead tells the story of a band of men who are called up * The Samson Way 2:47 the Foundation and I would like to thank personally Kit for active duty in the second world war under ( Father and Son 2:39 Turnbull for being my amanuensis on this project. commanding officer Lt. Jim Perry (David Niven). At first ) Geordie and Jean 2:00 they are pretty hopeless but their rigorous training turns ¡ The Hammer Reel 1:34 The Crimson Pirate – Overture (1952) them into first-class soldiers. Alwyn’s lively march is highly memorable, appearing towards the end of the film when In Search of the Castaways – Suite 5:43 In the late eighteenth century, Captain Vallo (Burt the men make their final assault to face the enemy. ™ Ship’s Waltz 3:03 Lancaster) and his crew of pirates roam the Caribbean £ Rumba 2:40 searching for ships to plunder. This light-hearted action State Secret – Suite (1950) romp has all you would expect from a pirate film: scurvy ¢ Desert Victory – Suite 8:56 men, a big pirate ship, sword fights and a pretty damsel in Written and directed by Sidney Gilliat, State Secret is set Prologue – Reinforcements Arrive – distress (Eva Bartok). Shot on location in the Mediterranean in a Ruritanian country, Vosnia, where spies pusue the Training Sequence – March and directed by Robert Siodmak this delightfully upbeat film surgeon Dr Marlow (Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.), the only man who knows that the dictator, Niva, is dead. The charming love story is set in the highlands of Scotland and RNCM Wind Orchestra pieces presented here are the broad martial theme of the directed by Frank Launder. Geordie is a slight of frame main titles, which sets the scene, followed by other gamekeeper’s son who feels that the girl he loves is The RNCM Wind Orchestra is one of several sequences whose suggestive titles speak for themselves. ignoring him because of his size. He takes a large scale ensembles that make up the wide Eventually after several adventures the music of the correspondence course in body-building and by the age of diversity of music making at the Royal opening is heard again over the end credits. 21 becomes one of the tallest and strongest men in Northern College of Music in Manchester, one Scotland and an expert at throwing the hammer. His of the world’s leading music conservatoires. The Million Pound Note – Waltz (1953) success story leads him to represent Britain in the 1956 Bands, ensembles and orchestras from the Olympic Games in Australia. But will the new man that he college have been active for many years in Based on the story by Mark Twain, The Million Pound is be able to charm Jean, his life-long sweetheart? The five giving concerts, both within the college, at Note is set in Victorian times. Two wealthy brothers strike movement suite makes use of several well-known Scottish venues in Great Britain and on international a cruel wager by drawing up a currency note worth a melodies such as Highland Laddie and Hearken My Love. tours. These groups have also made an million pounds. One believes it would be quite useless for increasing number of commercial recordings any poor but honest man to use. The other thinks that just In Search of the Castaways – Suite (1962) for leading record companies. by possessing the note and never cashing it in, a man could live like a lord. They choose a man (Gregory Peck) In In Search of the Castaways nothing will stop feisty to find out who is right by giving him the note and Mary Grant (Hayley Mills) from travelling to the four watching his journey. Alwyn wrote a charming waltz as corners of the world to find her missing sea-captain father, the main theme with an appropriately Victorian flavour. although her only clue to his whereabouts is a message in a bottle. Directed by Robert Stevenson after the novel by Swiss Family Robinson – Suite (1960) Jules Verne, the film also starred Maurice Chevalier and was the third and last film that Alwyn scored for the Walt The screen version of the literary classic The Swiss Disney Company. Here are presented a tuneful, lilting Family Robinson is one of Disney’s biggest and most waltz and a lively rumba full of exotic percussion. fondly remembered hits. The film is full of breathtaking scenery, exotic animals and treacherous pirates. The Desert Victory – Suite (1943) various adventures of the shipwrecked Robinson family on their deserted island are captured in Alwyn’s three Produced by the British Army Film Unit Desert Victory movement suite. shows Montgomery’s army pursuing the Axis forces through Tripoli during the Libyan Campaign. The suite The True Glory – March (1944-45) runs as a continuous piece but is broken up into sections taken from various parts of the film, book-cased by music The True Glory was a documentary production showing in march form. the campaign in Europe from D-Day to the fall of Berlin and directed by Carol Reed. The march has been Martin Ellerby and Andrew Knowles constructed from fragments heard in the film but never as a complete whole. Martin Ellerby studied with Joseph Horovitz at the Royal College of Music and later privately with Wilfred Josephs. Geordie – Suite (1955) He has written five symphonies and twelve concertos as well as music for brass and concert bands, chamber and In Geordie tall and handsome Bill Travers plays opposite choral combinations together with much educational music. Photo: Paul Cliff Norah Gorsen (Jean) and Alastair Sim (the Laird). This William Clark Rundell ALWYN (1905-85) Photo: Paul Cliff Clark Rundell is currently Director of Contemporary Music at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He studied at Northwestern University, Chicago, studying conducting with John Paynter and trombone Film Music with Frank Crisafulli of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He regularly arranged for Wind Band conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the contemporary William Alwyn was a consummate group, Ensemble 10:10. † 1 The Crimson Pirate – Overture (1952) 7:59 film composer, as capable of 2-6 The History of Mr Polly – Suite (1949)* 11:22 creating powerful marches as he 7 The Way Ahead – March (1944)* 1:46 was atmospheric waltzes. In these 8-! State Secret – Suite (1950)* 7:34 exciting arrangements by Martin @ The Million Pound Note – Waltz (1953)† 3:08 #-% Swiss Family Robinson – Suite (1960)† 9:33 Ellerby for wind band, the full ^ The True Glory – March (1944-45)† 2:44 variety of Alwyn’s inspiration &-¡ Geordie – Suite (1955)* 10:59 can be appreciated. There is the ™-£ In Search of the Castaways – Suite (1962)† 5:43 romantic allure of the overture to † ¢ Desert Victory – Suite (1943) 8:56 The Crimson Pirate, the compact, All arrangements by Martin Ellerby brilliant characterisation of The Mark Heron Royal Northern College of Music History of Mr Polly and the suite Photo: Paul Cliff Mark Heron studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music from Geordie, with its seductive and Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music, where Wind Orchestra he is now a member of the staff conducting faculty. He is the Clark Rundell* • Mark Heron† use of familiar Scottish melodies. Music Director of the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra and the The scores for The Way Ahead and Manchester University Symphony Orchestra. He has also This recording was made with financial assistance worked with the London Symphony Orchestra and several from the William Alwyn Foundation Desert Victory convey action with orchestras overseas. A detailed track list can be found inside the booklet superb and stirring effectiveness. Recorded at the Concert Hall, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England, on 22nd and 23rd January, 2011 Executive producer: Kit Turnbull • Producers: Martin Ellerby www.naxos.com and Chris Thorpe • Engineer: Chris Thorpe Booklet notes: Martin Ellerby and Andrew Knowles Publisher: The William Alwyn Foundation, distributed by Studio Music Company, London Cover photo by Martin McCarthy (iStockphoto.com)